Is it a good idea to go for a vaccine that’s different from the one I got the first time around?
There are different schools of thought on this “mix and match” strategy. Some Americans may find it attractive for a variety of reasons, but so far the data is very limited.
Here’s why [Mayo Clinic Vaccine Research Group director Gregory] Poland supports switching it up. If you had bad side effects from the first vaccine you got, you can now opt for another. Or sometimes it’s just more convenient to get whichever vaccine is first available; you don’t have to fret about finding a particular vaccine if supply is limited. And finally, some of the early research shows you may be better protected, depending on the vaccine you used.
This last reason may apply especially to those who got the J&J vaccine initially. A study from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently found that following up the J&J shot with either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine could produce a stronger immune response than a second dose of J&J’s vaccine. Research from Europe supports this conclusion.
